Messages from the Wild – Details, episodes & analysis

The Bittern is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB.

With many thanks to Jarrod Sneyd, RSPB Leighton Moss, for embodying this Bittern.

"For me, they just bring joy, particularly when the atmospherics are right. You can be in Leighton Moss, or nearby in Silverdale, for example, where there's been five or six booming male Bitterns, and the sound echoes and reverberates. If you were to try and write it down and capture it, it's constant, it's impossible to do. And so you've got this cacophony of Bitterns booming all around you and echoing and bouncing. And it's actually just incredible when you get that. It's not like that every morning or every evening." Jarrod Sneyd, RSPB Leighton Moss

Producer, Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 

Thank you to Jarrod for his superb sound recordings.

Thank you to Noemie Lina for the illustrations. 

The European Eel is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB.

With many thanks to Kath Smith, RSPB Leighton Moss, for embodying this European Eel.

"Eels are just fantastic. They've been around for hundreds of years but, we still don't really know much about them. It's only in the last few years we've realised that they spawn and die, and that's only through observation. And the fact that they have that incredible migration journey to the Sargasso Sea and back, they're just fantastic. And people need to know that. It's not all about fluffy, cuddly squirrels and other species. We should think about the ones that people might think are a bit weird too." Kath Smith, RSPB Leighton Moss

Producer, Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 

Thank you to Noemie Lina for the illustrations. 

This Mayfly is part of a series commissioned by

University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group for The River Derwent. 

With many thanks to Charles Foster, author and academic.

Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com 

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This Water Vole is part of a series commissioned by

University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group for The River Derwent. 

With many thanks to Christine Gregory, writer, photographer and painter.

The Water Vole: The Story of One of Britain's Most Endangered Mammals

Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com 

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This episode is especially made to accompany the work of the painter and print maker, Frances Gynn, for her exhibition on Fairy Shrimps as part of her Public Erasures series. It's powerful stuff so please go along if you can.

Public Erasures at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) Bristol.

Featuring the Fairy Shrimp (Chirocephalus diaphanous)

Endangered translucent crustacean

Living in temporary ponds

Main source of food to many organisms

Important indicator of a healthy eco-system

With many thanks to Frances for inviting me along to open her Fairy Shrimp Public Erasure and for being such a great Fairy Shrimp herself.

Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com 

Earthworms are arguably our most vital animal. They're quite funny too. (This one has been added to the podcast for a second time to be used in Derby City as part of their Wildlife Festival.)

With many thanks to Nicky Scott, aka Dr Compost,

Food Waste Educator, Community Compost Expert

Dr Compost | Growing Devon Schools

"I may have trained as an agronomist but I learned something new about earthworms today - listen in!" John Meadley 

Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

Our largest ant species explains how vital ants are to our survival, despite his seemingly lazy life, he manages to make the effort.

With many thanks to Professor Adam Hart, Entomologist & Professor of Science Communication, University of Gloucestershire Adam Hart

And thank you to Gregory Ovenden for his ant recordings in this episode: http://www.thesoundfarmer.com

This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

www.messagesfromthewild.com 

Vital to our existence and yet maggots have never been a very popular creature but, Dr Erica McAlister makes this particular maggot seem almost adorable.

With many thanks to Dr Erica McAlister, Entomologist, Senior Curator at the Natural History Museum, Author, Presenter  @ericamcalister

This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Producer, Presenter annabel@messagesfromthewild.com

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

www.messagesfromthewild.com 

Curious creatures woodlice, well I think so. I'm so happy I finally got to talk to one, I'd always wondered if they actually did eat their own poo.

This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

With many thanks to Lucy Lapwing, Wildlife Presenter and Campaigner @lucy_lapwing

Producer, Presenter annabel@messagesfromthewild.com

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

www.messagesfromthewild.com 

After listening to this badger I think you'll realise that they don't deserve the bad press they seem to get. This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

With many thanks to Steve Backshall, Naturalist, Presenter, Author, Campaigner www.stevebackshall.com 

Producer, Presenter annabel@messagesfromthewild.com

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

www.messagesfromthewild.com